Oakland to pay $32.7M to settle suits
OAKLAND » Oakland will pay $32.7 million to settle lawsuits filed over a 2016 fire at an illegally converted warehouse dubbed the Ghost Ship that killed 36 people, the city announced Thursday.
The City Council authorized settlements of lawsuits filed by the families of 32 victims. The amount also includes more than $9 million for Sam Maxwell, who survived the blaze but “will live with severe, lifelong injuries and major medical expenses,” a city statement said.
“This was a horrific tragedy that deeply impacted every corner of our community,” said the statement from the city attorney's office.
The settlement is one of the largest in city history but Paul Matiasic, an attorney for five families, called it “insignificant.”
“There's no amount of money in the world that can bring their loved ones back,” he told the East Bay Times. His clients contended the city was negligent and should have redtagged the building.
The city doesn't acknowledge any liability in the agreement but decided to settle because of the possible legal costs, the statement said.
On Dec. 2, 2016, fire swept through the warehouse during an electronic music party. The industrial building had illegally been turned into a residence for artists and an event venue.
The building was packed with furniture, extension cords and other flammable material but had only two exits and no smoke detectors, fire alarms or sprinklers, authorities said.
Evacuation drills set this weekend
Authorities are planning neighborhood evacuation drills on Saturday.
The morning sessions are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon in Fairfax and Sleepy Hollow. Afternoon sessions are scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. in San Anselmo and Ross.
In order to participate, residents must sign up for emergency alerts through AlertMarin.org to receive notifications. Participants must stay in their cars to prevent coronavirus transmission.
The drills are being coordinated by the Ross Valley Fire Department, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, the
Police: DUI suspect crashed into business
A suspected drunken driver crashed into a business in the Canal neighborhood and tried to run away, police said.
The crash happened at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said. Police found an abandoned Toyota sedan that had penetrated the east wall of Dependable Tire and Brake at 25 Market St.
Police saw a suspect nearby and chased him down. Santos Eduardo Coyoy Cifuentes, 23, of San Rafael was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, hit-and-run driving and resisting an officer.